Chalkboard Pumpkins – the easy way to “carve”

Carving pumpkins…

It’s a time-honored Halloween tradition. Before I had kids (notice the plural tense, one kid was still okay), I didn’t mind the mess so much. It was fun! Now, with three sets of hands grabbing for the knives and flinging pulp everywhere, whilst also trying to shirk the hardest part of the project so I get stuck with scooping out everyone’s pumpkin for them…I kind of dread it. Wha, wha.

So, we’ve tried painting pumpkins, which is almost equally as messy, and on the other years when I try really hard not to be a Halloween Scrooge, I just grin and bear the more traditional gourd gouging.

This year, I was browsing Michaels and I think I’ve landed on an even better solution.

Chalkboard pumpkins!

They come pre-painted with chalkboard paint, so they are ready to decorate.

They’re reusable, for multiple decorating sessions, and years!

There are no knives involved, so it is no stress for me and even the three year old can be all hands on deck.

But…you can still carve them if you want to.

And my kids love them as much as I do! (happy dance)

When I told them they could erase them and decorate them again, they made the face my middle child is making on the left…to some degree or another. haha. He’s my ham.

My three year old, my poor food allergy kid, has also developed an allergy to raw pumpkin, so this a great solution for that issue as well.

Wins all around!

I bought some chalkboard markers for them to decorate with (also from Michaels), instead of traditional chalk, so that it would make their designs bolder and less likely to rub off easily (you have to use a wet wipe to completely remove chalkboard marker).

I stuck mostly with the white chalkboard markers, but threw in an orange one for fun.

This keeps their design in harmony with the rest of our Halloween decor, without stifling their creativity.

I was so impressed with how into it they were.

I “collaborated” with my youngest on hers, but she really didn’t need my help. She had a blast doodling away.

Gosh, I love her. She’s my favorite daughter and I tell her all the time. 😉

If you’re wondering what is with all the pumpkins on their heads. I totally put them up to that. Um…because it’s the cutest! …and they thought it was hilarious, so I got some good smiles.

 

Disclaimer: This project was made for the Michaels Makers Craft Pumpkin challenge and this post is sponsored by Michaels. All opinions are all my own. I am thrilled to be collaborating with such a great craft company!

P.S. Michaels doesn’t just sell chalkboard craft pumpkins. You can get traditional orange and white ones in a bunch of different sizes, as well as half craft pumpkins for walls and doors!

For more craft pumpkin inspiration, check out more projects from other Michaels Makers.